Our 219 Mates

SailAhead uses sailing as a therapeutic platform to heal veterans!

According to a briefing released on February 1, 2013 by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), at least 22 veterans commit suicide every day in America! Furthermore, young male veterans (under the age of 30) are three times more likely to commit suicide than civilian males in the same age range. The statistics have also increased for female veterans in all age brackets.

To put this in perspective, at least "22 a day" translates to at least 8,030 deaths a year! This number of 8,030 is a minimum number of veterans who are ending their own lives each year! We, as a nation, are losing more soldiers each year at home than all soldiers Killed in Action in all wars and operations since the first Iraq war!

According to mental health professionals, nearly one quarter of all veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or major depression.

From the statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published on Sept. 30, 2013, approximately 76,577 veterans live in Suffolk County, the largest veteran population in New York.

It is because of the above reality that brothers Kilian Duclay and Sean Duclay, with the enthusiastic support of their family, friends and Oakcliff Sailing Center, have dedicated themselves and their expertise in sailing to provide effective sailing therapy for traumatized and wounded veterans.

The sailing therapy is similar in concept to veterans working with horses or being exposed to stressful environment where they can show success. From comfortable day long trips in the summer to intense racing in harsh freezing cold conditions in the winter, sailing brings mental relief to our wounded veterans. There is definitively no doubt that sailing heals and we are proud to say that we contribute to this healing process.

The immersion into an environment where everybody's work counts and a collective will is applied to survive has two effects: while it cleanses the mind it also shows that expertise developed in combat can be applied with success towards competitive sailing or just recreational sailing.

Even though at times it can be seen as extreme, this sailing activity is not dangerous! Taking veterans sailing provides an often new and definitively liberating experience. Veterans are exposed to new sounds, new feelings, new or renewed social interaction and new types of challenges. Learning to sail and being supported by others while on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean exposes our veterans to positive and constructive stress. It forces each veteran to work with other unfamiliar veterans to make a team that gets the boat moving!

The veterans returning from sailing trips are energized, eager to set sail again and relish the mental freedom sailing provides.

We pride ourselves in being on the home-front for our returning veterans and fighting PTSD, the invisible enemy! Our mission is to heal wounded veterans through sailing, our fleet is potentially every sailboat moored in every single bay around Long Island ... this is a work in progress!

Simply put, sailing is positively one of the best therapies for many.

Team Work

We are a local strong and proud team, composed of volunteers, veterans and supporters.

Healing

We use sailing as a healing therapy and the Long Island Sound is our playground.

We are Sailors

We are sailors, we love to sail and want to recruit as many boats/skippers as possible around LI.

All Natural

The wind is our source of energy, Sailing is very therapeutic and very green!

Testimonials

“ Your family has demonstrated a loyalty to America's greatest asset. Thank you”

George - Unified Warrior Foundation

“ Thank you for being there to change my life. Something I cannot repay ... I will always be grateful.”

Bruce B. - USMC

“ I'm a nurse at a VA hospital, I think what you do is amazing!”

Nic - VA Nurse

“ Where were you all these years? This is by far the best therapy I've ever had since the Vietnam!”

“Well done Kilian, Sean and the entire Duclay Family! You have created something that is so positive and enriching for our Veterans and our community as a whole. The comeraderie shared by all who spent the day sailing together was very special. My father, a WWII Navy Veteran particularly enjoyed the interaction and sailing with the young sailors and merchant marine cadets as well as the Veterans of all ages. Thank you.”

George - Son of a WWII Navy Veteran

“It was an honor to volunteer and give back to these amazing men and women. It was a great day for all!!”

Latest News

SailAhead is proud to announce that its partner, The Centerport Yacht Club, received an Outstanding Service Award from the Greenlawn American Legion Post 1244 for its lead participation hosting SailAhead's largest yearly event "Let's Take a Veteran Sailing."...
April 2017SailAhead celebrates Ryan James Day
Ryan, an Army Ranger, ended his life on December 15th, 2014 at the age of 21!

Ryan's parents Linda and Jim, as well as Ryan's two younger brothers Justin and Evan will be our guests of honor during our event "Let's Take a Veteran Sailing" which will take place at Centerport Yacht Club on Sunday, August 6th, 2017...
January 2017